I See Your Soul [An Original Michael Jackson Love Story] ✔

Chapter 7: Make a Wish

They eventually cleaned up the picnic and Michael toured Nicole around the property, beginning, of course, with his animals. Two flamboyant peacocks roamed freely while the two llamas, one boy, and one girl, and a sweet chimpanzee named Bubbles, were housed safely behind gates. He then pointed out the bird and reptile exhibits, trying to convince Nicole that she really would love snakes, if only she tried holding one...

He continued through the yard showing off the pool and basketball court. Michael loved the sport despite his poor athletic ability. He then brought her to his favorite room, detached from the main house, the game room. The lower level had pool and foosball tables and half a dozen arcade machines. Michael's favorite was Pac-man, though, like basketball, he wasn't very good. Regardless, he always had fun playing. Hiding in a small upstairs loft, was a large television, worn-in sofa and a big bay window that overlooked the yard. But Michael's favorite feature of the room was still a work in progress.

In a long, flat box, tucked behind the sofa were over 40 printouts of family photos in all different sizes from all different eras. Together on the couch as Nicole slowly flipped through, admiring each face one-by-one, Michael introduced her to the family.

In 1968 the Jackson 5 auditioned for Motown. Michael, barely 10 years old at the time was proudly kneeling in front of his brothers. 

A year later was a shot of the young boys performing on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time, an incredible triumph for any musical group. Michael stood out again as he danced with his microphone in a wide-brimmed hat.